Recording device for motor vehicles



Oct. 23 1923. I 1,471,850

R. H. KIMES ET AL RECORDING DEVICE FOR MOTO VEHICLES Filed April 17 1.922 3 Sheets-Sheet] Qgg; 3 2827;

R. H. K/MES. 0. f. SCI/MIDI R. H. KIMES ET AL RECORDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 17 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a J l l //;/7 l' l 11' 6/ 35 r I (I B 64- 1 2 m i H M I 2 mmmmmmmmm unmaa'n-uuuw l7 m I' 0. F." SCHMIDT i R. H. KIMES ET AL I RECORDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 17 1922' s Shets-Sheet s 3 H men WM F7 '1'. l E9- WM- v Patented 23, 1923.

um'rao s'rArss' PATENT OFFICE.

noun! is. x'nms am) oscamr. 'scmnnr, or mirror, oino, assmnons 'ro 01mm run nmxs'rm courm, or narrow, 0310, a conroaa'rrou or NEW 1031:,

RECORDING DEZICE FOB MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 558,831.

To all whom it may concern:

. Beit known that we, llomnrr H. Knmcs and 5030A]! F. Scrmmr. citizens of -.the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Recording Devices for Motor ehicles,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This'invention relates to a device for recording the operation of motor vehicles and the like and is designed more particularly to.'

provide a record of the movements of an automobile truck, or other vehicle which is.

operated by a driver other than the owner.

.One object of the invention is to provied a device topreserve a record. of the move.-

ments of 'a motor vehicle, the operation of 3 which device will be beyond the control of the driven.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device to register both time and distance and to automatically take a rowrd of both registrations at predetermined intervals. p

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the operation of the record taking devices will be controlled by the operation of the motor.

Other obje'ctsof.the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a a front elevation of a device embodying our 36 invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.. 3; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 373 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the actuating devices for the distance register; Firm-6 is a top plan view of the mechanism; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the Kline 7-7 of F ig. 3; and .Fig. 55 isa facsimile of a rtion of'a record produced by the mechanism.

In carrying out our invention we provid e two, registering devices,'"one for registering time and the other for registering distance.

Cooperating with these devices is a device for taking a record. therefrom, this record taking device so controlled that it has been chosen for the will 0 rate automatically to take a record of -bot time and distance at predetermined intervalsy The record may be taken at intervals of time or at intervals of distance but. wep'refer to take a record at fixed in- I ter'vals of ,time, for example, every five.

minutes In this manner it can be determined by comparing two successive records if so the distance traveled andthe speed at whichit. traveled. vice 'is,also controfied bythe'operation of the motorin such a manner that no record will be taken so long as the motor is idle, thus-enabling it to be determined from the I record whether or not the motor is allowed to run while theivehiele is not in operation. .The mechanism by which, we accomplish theseresults may take various forms and it will ,be understood that that here shown ,P rposes of illustra'.

tion only.

whether ,the vehicle, was in operation and The record taking de- In. the particular of the mechanism here illustrated, the device comprises abase plate 1 having mounted thereon two up- I 'wardlyextending plates, or brackets, and

3,-these brackets constituting a supporting frame "for the several 'parts of the mechanism. Mountedon this supporting frame are two sets of' reg-isteringde'vices, A and'B,

the registering device A. serving toregister the time andtheregistering device B'serving to register the distance traveled by the vehicle. As here shown, these] registering devices are in the-fonn of printing counters and are rotatablymounted on a counter shaft. 5.

The time register A consistsof a minutes counter'wheel '6 and an hour count- I 1 er wheel 7. The minutes counter wheelis' rovided on itsperiphery with figures, preerably in the form of type, to'regisger the time in-predetermined. units. In the present instance the time is registered at intervals of five minutes and, th.emfo the minutes wheel 6 i'sa twelve point wh and is provided with to 55 in multiples of I h r n r wheel 7 is also shown 5 in the pre'sent device as the twelve point wheel. and is provided on its priphe'rywith the figurcs'l ,to 12. The mmum wheel is driven from clock mechaniemi.

, of live minutes, during each five minutes. of

time. The minutes counter wheel is connected with the hour counter wheel by means of transfer gearing 13 of a well known type, which serves to advance the hour wheel one' step for each complete rotation of the minute wheel.

The distance registering device B 18 also shown in the form of printing counters loosely mounted on the shaft 5, and,'in the present instance, these printing counters are ordinary ten point counter wheels and are provided on their peripheries with thefig-. ures 0 to 9, inclusive. The units counter wheel 14 is actuated from a moving part of the vehicle, such as one of the wheels or the driving shaft, in such a manner that it will register the distance traveled by the vehicle. As here shown, this units counter wheel has-secured thereto a ratchet wheel 15 with which cooperates a pawl 16 carried by a pawl arm 17 mounted on a stud shaft' 18 carried by the frame member, or'bracket,

The pawl arm is actuated bythe'lever 19 also mounted on the stud shaft" IS -and. rigidly connected withthepawl' arm's This lever hasconnect'ed the'r'ewith a rock'iarm .20 which is acted upon by a spring 21' which tends to. movethe same in a direction tocause the pawl to advance the ratchetlwheel. The movement of the lever 19and the'pawl 16' under the influence of thespring-21 is controlled. by a cam 22. rigidly secured. to'

uofi any suitable character which may be interposed between the type wheels and the the shaft r5.- The'shaftb isoperatively connected with a niovingpart. ofthe vehicle and m the present. instance has secured thereto a worm wheel 23 which is driven by a worm. connected with a .flexible shaft and leading to the wheel or other movable part of the vehicle ,from which the distance is to be computed, this flexible shafhheingounted in a casing 24 ex-x here shown as tending throng the base plate 1.. In the present,- arrangement of the mechanismthe wheel to the succeeding counter wheels 25 by transfer gear ng 26 of any suitable char- -acter. which w ll cause-the succeeding countenwheel to advr T106 one point for each rotation of the preceeding counter'wheel.

A record may be taiken from the printing counters in any suitable manner but we prefer to provide means for simultaneously taking a record on a single record sheet, from, both registering devices and in the particular formof the device here shown we llB-VB provided a platen 27'- extending across both registering devices and having a yieldable contact member 28. As here shown, this platen is carried by an arm 29 which is pivotally mounted; on a shaft 30 journaled in the frame members 2 and 3 so that the platen is free to swing toward counters of the two and from the-printing perative movement is registering devices.

movement of theplaten under the influence of the spring is, in the present instance, so controlled by the clock mechanism that an operative movement will be imparted to the platen every five minutes. have provided a cam 31 which is mounted on a shaft 32so connected with the clock mechanism' 8 that it will make one rotation for each five minutes of time registered by the clock. The cainis here shown as an ordinary snail type and is arranged to act upon aprojection, or li1g,33 carried by the platen supporting arm 29, the arrangement being such that as the cam rotates the platen will be gradually retracted and when the shoulder of the? cam passes the rojection 33 the platen will be released an into: operative engagement with the type wheels, or rather with the record sheet .whichis interposed between the same and thetype wheels; I i The record ay be taken on a record sheet platen. .As here shown, the record sheet is in the form of a web of paper 34 which is fed from a" roll 35 about guides 36, thenpe' upwardly between the platen and the type wheels and-about a guide 37 to arewinding roller 38. Ink may be applied to the type wheels for printing a record in any desired .manne'r.v but we prefer-to employ an ink ribbon-which is interposed between the type .wheelsand the. record sheet. In the present construction we have embodied an endless ink-ribbon 39 which passes over a feeding" drum 40 above the typerwheels, thence down? wardly between the type wheels and the record sheet, about guides '41, thence upwardly about a guide 42 to the feeding roller. The guide 42 is carried by rock arms 43 pivotally mounted at 44 and acted upon by a spring 45 to maintain the inking r b- Feeding movement may be imparted to the record strip and to the ink To this end wv caused to move III ribbon in any desired manner, but preferably both are advanced step by step upon each operation of the printing mechanism.

In the construction here shown, the rewinding roller 38 is rovided with a ratchet wheel 46 with wliich cooperates a spring pressed pawl 47 carried by a pawl arm 48 mounted on the axis of the rewmding roller. This pawl armis connected by a link 49 withia rock arm 50 mountedon a shaft 51 and having rigidlyfconnected theretoa sec,-

ond rock arm 52 which, in the present arrangement, extends downwardly from the shaft 51 and is acted upon by a spring 53, which tends to move the same in a direction to move the pawl 47 rearwardly over the ratchet wheel. The feeding roller for the ink ribbon is also provided with a ratchet wheel 54 with which cooperates a spring pressed pawl 55 carried by a pawl arm 56 mounted on the axis "of the roller 40 and when the platen is in its normalposition. When the platen is in its normal posi-' tion it is withdrawn slightly from the'type.

- wheels so that the necord strip and the ink ribbon may be out of contact with the type wheels and the record will not bemarred by the rotation of the type wheels. When the platen is reta'cted by the action of "the cam 31 the lower projection 59 of the cam 58 will act onthe rock arm 50 to rock the same against the action of the spring 53, and this movement of the rock arm will cause the ,pawls 47 and of the rewinding roller and the ink ribbon roller to move forwardly, thus advancingboth .the record sheet and the ribbon. When the shoulder of the cam 31 has passed the projection 33 on the platen arm, the spring 53 acting through the rock arm 50 and cam 58 will impart f orward movement to the laten, thus causing it to press the record sheet and the ink ribbon against the type. The upper projection 60 of the cam 58 serves to retract the platen and hold the samenormally inan inoperative position. The platen is retracted a very slight distance, just enough to free the record sheet and the ribbon, and, con= sequent-1y, the momentum. acquired bythe platen during its forward movement will be 'suflicie'nt to carry the same into contact with the type wheels after the projection 60 of thee-am 58 has engaged therock arm 50, but the actionof this projection on the rock arm will cause the platen to be instantly withdrawn The platen operating cam 31 maybe so timed with relation to the time printing counters that these counters will always be in printing position during the being actuated Op ration of aeplaan and am winbane? possibilit of forward movement o a e parted. t ereto durin the contact platen-. therewith. T e distance counters riodically by the .cam 22, it is very impro ablethat movement will be imparted thereto at the'instant the engages the same, but obviously,if thoughtzi' necessary, alining type could be utilized to ment of the type wheels tion of the platens revent the move It is desirable also that the records should' be taken only when the motor of the vehicle is in operation, as this will. pennit'therec- ,ord to indicate whether or not the motor operated while the vehicle was idle.

To this end we have; provided means controlled by apart of the engine mecha-nisml-for controlling the operation of the printing mechanism. As here shown, this means .is in the form of a locking" device, which, when the motor is idle, will lock the printing mechanism against operation, 'The lock may be controlled from any suitable part" of the engine mechanism, but We have here shown itas ap lied to. the ignition switch.

devices of av well known,

ur ing; the opera- This switch is not shown in detail but is actuated by a shaft 61 mounted on a bracket 62 and having an operating handle 63 which is moved from one position to another to open or close the-ignition circuit. Rigidly connected with this shaiitis a lock arm 64 having at its free end aprojection, or nose, 65 which is so arranged with relation to the shaft 61 that when the ignition switch is'moved to its 0 en or iofi osition the nose 65 of the locking arm will lie in the path of a projection, or nose, 66 on the platen 27. The nose 650f the lock arm ispreferably yieldable with relation to the arm and. as here shown. it is connected thereto by a. flat spring 67. If the ignition switch is opened when the platenis-i'n its forward position the nose 65 will lie in the rear of the nose 66 on the platen and as theplaten is retracted the nose 66 will ride over the nose 65 and when it has passed the same the nose 65 will spring into place in front of the nose 66, time looking the platen in its retracted position and preventing any further record being taken until the ignition switch has been closed.- Upon the closing of the ignition switch the platen will be. re-

leased and will unove forwardly until the projection 33 engages the cam 31 and a rec- 'ord' will be taken as. soon as thecai'n has completed its rotation. Obviously, thefirst record taken may not cover a complete interval of five minutes, but all the succee'ding records will cover such an 'interval, which is sufiicient for allpractical nurooses.

Themechanism as a whole is enclosed in a casing 68- which rests uponthe base 1 and which maybe locked to the base by a suitable lock, as shown at 69. The casing is-provided in its front wall with an open- .ing 70 to expose the face of the clock and with an opening-'71 to register with the a bracket which carries the ignition'switch.

If desired, a lock 72 may be provided for locking the ignition switch in its open, 01' off position. We have also shown the casing with an opening 73 through which ,-the amount of paper remaining on the roll may be'determined without opening the case. I

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that with this recording device 1 a record of both time and distance is taken every five minutes if the engine istoperating, that this record will show whether'or not the engine is operating, whether or not the vehicle is in motion, and the speed at 2 which thewehicle is moving, and will also show the time that the vehicle stood idle, which time may have been used for loading or unloading, or may have been waste time. By reference to the record shown in Fig. 8,

26 it will be. noted that the first record was taken at 12.05 and the second at 12.10 and in the interval the vehicle traveled a distance of eight-tenths of a mile. The usual speed limit on a heavy truck is twelve miles 30 an hour, which would be one mile for each five minutes and it will'be seen that the driver was within his speed limit. The third record was not taken until 1.15 showing a lapse of one hour and five minutes. The

5 distance shown on the second and third records is the same and it is apparent that the truck was idleduring this time and as the regular five minute records'were not taken it is apparent that the engine was (idle.

The fourth, fifth and sixth'records were taken at regular five minute intervals but the distance shown in each record is the same, thus indicating that the vehicle stood -idle for ten minutes with the engine running. The last threerecords were also taken at regular five minute intervals and the distance traveled between 1.35 and-1.45 "was three and six-tenths miles, which is very much in excess of the usual speed limit. It

will be apparent, therefore, that a complete check can be kepton all operations of the vehicle and that the time required for load ing and unloading as well as for making specified trips can be easilyldetermined; By

I requiring the driver to enter on his shipping bill or his order slip the time at which he begins each trip it will be a simple inatter to connect the various records with the respective trips to which they relate. Inas- 0 much as the time entered on the shipping bill or order slip must agree with the printed record it will be obviousthat any false entry by the driver can easily be detected. It willbe apparent thatwhen the ignition will also rotate the shaft 32 and the cam 31, and the latter will engage the projection 33 on the platen arm and retract the platen against the tension of the spring'53, which acts on the shaft 30 through the arm 50 and cam 58. When the cam 31 completes one revolution the platen is released and is moved toward the type wheels to take an impression therefrom. The operating cam 31,. being driven by the clock, will complete each revolution in an exactpredeterminedperiod of time, thus causing im ressions to b e taken at regular intervals. hen the ignition switch is moved into off position to stop the engine thedetent 65 will bemoved to its operative position and, upon the next outward movement of the platen, will engage the nOSe- 60' on the laten and lock thetla-tter in its retract position, thereby permitting the cam 31 to pontinue its rotation without operating the platen.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled inthe art.

Having now fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 4

1. In a recording device for motor vehicles having devices for registering both time and distance, actuating means for said devices, and means controlled by said actuating means for-automatically taking a.

record from said registerin devices.

2. A recording device or mot-or vehicles having means for registering both time and distance and means for automatically taking a record of said registrations at predetermined intervals. e

3. A recording device for motor vehicles having means for registering both time and distance,and means for automatically taking a record of saidregistrations at predetermined intervals of time.

4. In a recording devicefor motor vehicles having devicesjor registering both time and distance, actuating means for said devices, and'mcans controlled by said actuating means for simultaneously takingia rec- 0rd from both of said registering devices. 5. A recording device for motor vehicles having means for registering both time and :distance, means for taking a record from l both of said registering means,'.'and time controlled means for automatically operat mg said record taking means. In a recording device, for motor vehi cles, two registering devics, clock mech-- anism for operating one of said registering devices, means driven from a moving part trolled b of said motor vehicle for operating the other of said rigistering" devices, a -device to take a record ro'm said registering devices, and a cam actuating by said clock mechanism to control the operation of said record taking device. I

7, In a recording device for motor vehicles, two sets of printing counters, clock mechanism for operating one of said sets of counters, means driven from a moving part of said motor vehicle for operating theother set of counters, a platen to take a record from said counters, and a'cam consaid clock mechanism for, controlling t e operation of said platen.

-8. In a recording device for motor vehicles, two sets of printing counters, clock mechanism for operating one of said sets of counters, means driven from a moving part of said motor vehicle for operating the other set of counters, a platen to take a recrd from said counters, a springto actuate said platen, and a cam operated by said clock mechanism to cause said platen to be operated by said spring at predetermined intervals of, time.

01 said platemand a spring acting on said rock. arm to hold'the same in engagement with said cam, said cam being so arranged with relation to said arm that the latter will resist the movement of said platen into its retracted position. n

10. In a recording device for motor vehicles, two registering devices, clock mechanism for operating'one of said registering devices, means driven from a moving. part of said motor vehicle for operating the other of said registering devices, a pivotally supported platen to take a record from said registering devices, a cam actuated by said clock mechanism to control the operation of said platen, a part mounted on the axis of said platen and rigidly secured thereto and having two projections, a rock arm by "the first mentione mounted on an axis arallel with the axis of said platen and a apted to engage both projections on' said part when said platen is in its normal position, and a spring act-,

ing 'on said rock arm to hold the same in engagement with said projections.

11. In a recording device ,for' motor vehicles, two registering devices, clock mechanism for operating one of said registering devices, means driven from a moving part o f said vehicle for operating the other of -sa1d registering devices, a pivotally supported platen to take a record from said registering devices', a cam actuated by said clock mechanism to control the operation of said record taking device, a record strip extending between said platen and said registering devices, a feeding device for advancing said record strip, a cam connected with said platen for movement abou the axis thereof, a rock arm mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of said platen, a spring acting on said rock arm, said last mentioned cam being so arranged with relation to said rock arm that the retraction of said platen will cause the last mentioned cam to move said rock arm against the tension of said spring, and means connected with said rock arm for actuating the feeding mechanism for said record strip.

12. f In a recording device for motor vehicles, two registering devices, clockf mechanism for operating one of said register ing devices, means driven. from a-moving part of said vehicle for operating the other of said registering devices, a pivotally supported platen tov take a record from said registering devices, a cam actuated by said clock mechanism to. control the operation 1 of said record taking device, a record strip extending between said platen'and said registering devices, a 'feeding 'device for advancing said record strip, an ink ribbon interposed between said record strip and said registering devices, feeding means for advancing said inking ribbon, a cam connected with said platenand arranged for movement about the axis thereof, a rock arm mounted on an axis parallel to the axis.

of said platen, a spring acting on said rock arm to hold the same in engagement with the last mentioned cam, said cam being so arrangedwith relation to said rock arm that when movement is imparted to said platen cam the last mentioned cam will impart movement to'said rock arm against the tension of said spring, and means for operatively connecting the feeding devices for .said recordstrip and said ink ribbon with said rock arm. a

'13. A recording device for motor vehicles having means for registering both time and distance, means for automatically taking a record of said registrations at predetermined intervals, and means to prevent the registering devices, clock mechanism for optaking of such a record when the motor of crating one of said registering devices, means said vehicle is not in operation.

14. A recording device for motor vehicles operating the other of said registering dehavin means for registerin both time and vices 21 5 rin actuated laten to take a recdriven by a moving part of said vehicle for distance, means for automatically taking a 0rd from said registering devices, means acrecord of said registrations at predetermined tuated by said clock mechanism for moving intervals, and a device operatively connected said platen against the tension of its spring with a part of the mechanism of the motor and then releasing the same, and means opoi said vehicle to control the operation of eratively connected with said switch for consaid record taking means. trolling the operation of said platen by said 15. The combinationwith a motor vehicle spring.

havingemeans for controlling the operation 21. The combination with a'motor veof its motor, of devices for registering both hicle having an ignition switch to control time and distance, means for automatically the'operation of the motor thereof, of two taking a record of said registrations, and a registering devices, clock methanism tor device controlled by said motor controllin operating one of said registering devices, means to control the operation of said record means driven by a moving part of said vetaking 'means. hicle for operating the other of said regis- 16. The combination with a motor ve* tering devices, a spring actuated platen-to hicle having means for controlling the oportake a record from said registering devices, ation of its motor, of two registering devices, means actuated by said clock mechanism to clock mechanism for actuating one of said control the operation of said platen, and a registering devices, means controlled by a locking arm connected with said ignition fmoving part of said vehicle for actuating switch andmovable into and out of an opthe other of said registering devices, means erative position with relation to said platen controlled by said clock mechanism for tale by the movement of said switch.

inga'record from said registering devices, 22. The combination witha motor veand a device controlled by means for, con hicle, having an ignition switch to control trolling the operation of the motor to prethe operation of the motor thereof, of two vent the operation of said record taking registering devices, clock mechanism for opmeans'when said motor is idle. erating one of said registering devices, means 'l7. The combination with a motor vehicle, driven by a moving part of said vehicle for and an ignition switch for controlling theoperating the other of said registering deoperation ofthe motor thereof, of devices for vices, a spring actuated platen to take a recregistering both time and distance, means 0rd from said registering devices, a looking for. automatically taking a record of said arm connected with said switch and having a registrations, and means operatively conyieldableprojection arranged to be moved nected with said ignition switch to control into the path of a part carried by said platen the operation of said record taking means. by the movement of said switch from one po- 18. The combination with a motor vehicle, sition to another. 7 i

and an ignition switch for controlling the 23. The combination with a motor veoperation of the motor thereof, of devices for' hicle having an ignition switch to control registering both time and distance, means the operation of the motor thereof, of two for automatically taking a record of said registering devices, clock mechanism for opregistrations, and means operatively conerating one of said registering devices, nected with said ignition switch to prevent means driven by a moving part of said veh f king Ole-a rd f m aid registering hicle for operating the other of said regisdevices when said switch is open tering devices, a spring actuated platen to 19. The combination with a motor vetake a record from said registering devices,

hicle, and an ignition switch for controlling means actuated by said clock mechanism the operation thereof, of two'registering deto control the operation of said platen,

vices, clock mechanism for operating one of said platen having a locking-projection, a"

said registering devices, means driven from a locking arm connected with said ignition moving part of said vehicle for operating switch, and having a projection movable into the, other of said devices, 'means controlled and ,out of the by said clock mechanism for taking a record platen.

from said registering devices, and means op eratively connected with said ignition switch hicle having an ignition switch to control to prevent the operation of said record takthe operation of the motor thereof, of two path of the projection on said 24. The combination with a motor veing means when said switch is in its open registering devices, clock mechanism for op- Position 20. The combination with a motor vedriven by a moving part of said vehicle for hicle, having an ignitionswitch to control operating the other of said registering dethe operation of the motor thereof, of two vices, a spring actuated platen to take a reoeratingbne of said registering devices, means 0rd from said registering devices, means actuated by said clock mechanism to control the operation of said platen, said platen having a locking projectlon, a locking arm con" nected with said ignition switch and having a projection movable into and out of the path of the projection on said platen, the projection on said locking arm being yieldable to permit the projection on said platen to ride over the same when the platen is be- 10 ing; moved against the tension of its spring.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures hereto.

ROBERT H. KIMES. OSCAR F. SCHMIDT. 

